Trench-digging machine.



LLWEHNER. TRENCH DIGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. 1911.

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' L. WEHNER. TRENCH DIGGING MACHINE. APPLl'cAnoN FILED APR. 16,1917.

Patented y22, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mw l Ferns m. Puomuruu. wus/mman n y f g i 1 i LEWIS WERNER, 0FMILWAKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO PAWLING AND HARNISCHFEGER COMPANY, OFWEST MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPO- RATION 0F WISCONSIN.

TRENCI-I-DIGGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters rPatent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919 Appiication fusa Aprii 1c, 1917. serial No.162,363.

To 'all whom it may concern y Be it known that I, Lnwis WEHNER, acitizen of the State of Wisconsin, residing at Milwaukee, in the countyof Milwaukee and State of .Wisconsim haveinvented certain new and usefulImprovements in 'Trench-Digging Machines, of which the 'following is aspeciication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart thereof."

This invention relates to trench digging machines having spokelessdigging wheels 'rotatably supported and guided on rollers and providedat intervals around its periph-- ery with pivoted buckets.

The main objects of the present invention are to effect the completedischarge of the buckets particularly when digging heavy,

sticky dirt, such as clay; to thrust` stonesl and other Obstructions outof the path of the buckets without breaking or injuring the machine; toprevent dirt from clogging and interfering with the free and properoperation of the gearing inside the wheel and ,of the pivot connectionsbetween the buckets and the wheel, to rmly support and truly guide'thewheel and buckets in their move `ments; and generallyto improve theconstruction and operation of machines of this class.

It consistsin theA peculiar construction, arrangement and combination ofparts as here- .-inafter particularly described and pointed out in theclaims;

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the sameparts inthe several figures. Y

Figure l is a side elevation of a trench digging machine embodying theinvention, parts being broken away and shown in section, and the frontshield or guard plate being removed; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View ofa portion of the digging wheel 4showing scrapers for removing dirt fromthe buckets on the upper sideof the wheel; Fig. 3 is a cross section ona still larger scale on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, showing the front orVleading'end of one of the buckets; and Fig. 4 is a similar section onthe line 4 4, Fig. 1, showing the wheel driving and supporting pinions.

The machine comprises a vertically adjustable and swinging main framecomposed of two parallel metal I-bars 1, spaced apart andV rigidlyconnected with each other at or adjacent to the ends by cross pieces,and provided at their front ends with brackets 2, by which pivotal andvertically adjustable connections are made with a tractor (not shown) inthe usual or any suitable manner, for the purpose of raising andlowering the digging wheel and digging trenches of different depths.

At its rear or trailing end, the main frame is provided with a shoe orrunner 3, adapted to bear on the bottom of a trench to support the rearend of said frame and the digging wheel in proper working position whenthe machine is in operation. The shoe or runner 3, which is locatedbelow and parallel with the frame bars 1, is rigidly connected therewithby standards 4 and braces 5.

The digging wheel comprises a pair oit' angle rings 6, having radiallyand outwardly projecting iianges 7 on their proximate sides spaced apartas shown in Figs. Q, 3 and 4, to form through the rim of the wheel avertical slot in open communication with the interior of the wheel, sothat dirt will not lodge and become packed in the slot and interferewith the pivotal action of the buck-- ets, as hereinafter explained.

The digging wheel is rotatably supported and guided between the framebars 1, as shown in Figs. l and 4, by flanged rollers 8 and drivingpinions 9, mounted in pairs on said bars and in an adjustable auxiliaryframe suspended therefrom, said rollers engaging the inside faces andouter edges of the rings 6. The pinions and upper pair of rollers aremounted on transverse hori zontal shafts 10, which are supported inbracket bearings 11, attached t0 the upper sides of the bars l. The twolower pairs of rollers are mounted on shafts 12, supported by theadjustable auxiliary frame consisting of bars 13, pivotally connected attheir upper ends with the bars 1, an adjustable horizontal bar 14connecting the lower ends of the bars 13 and adjustable brace rods 15,provided with turnbuckles 16 and diagonally connecting the lower end ofeach bar 13 with the upper end of the other bar 13. By the adjustment ofthe bar 14 and braces 15, the two lower pairs of rollers may be shiftedrelatively to the upper pair of rollers 8 and pinions 9 toward and fromthe center of the digging wheel, to take up .play and wear and to firmlyand properly support and'guide said wheel.

A pair of internal gears or racks 17, spaced apart to form a slot oropening` between them corresponding and registering with the slot oropening between the rings 6, are fitted i side of said rings and areformed with and connected at intervals by outwardly proj ecting lugs 1S,which are insertedbetween and secured by rivets or bolts to the flanges7 of the rings, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4.

For convenience in making and assembling these gears or racks, they arepreferably cast in segments or sections, as shown in Fig. l,corresponding segments or sections of the gears being cast or formedintegrally with the intervening connecting and spacing lugs 18 and atintervals between said lugs with cross connections 19, to stifi'en andstrengthen the segments or sections, and firmly hold them in the properrelation to each other.

.The spaces between the gear teeth preferably extend radially clearthrough the seg-ments or sections, and are open at their outer ends topermit dirt to readily escape therefrom and thus prevent its lodgingtherein and interfering with the free and proper opera tion of the wheeland buckets. At their in ner ends the teeth of each segment or sectionare connected, and the spaces between them closed, by bonds 20, formingthe walls of the inner portion of the vertical slot or opening throughthe rim of the wheel. As shown in Figs. l and Ll, the digging wheel isrotated in a clockwise direction, indicated by an arrow on Fig. l, bythe pinions 9, fixed on one of the shafts l0 and meshing with theinternal gears 17, said shaft 10'y having a driving connection (notshown) with the tractor motor.

At intervals around its periphery the digging wheel is provided withbuckets 22, having central longitudinalwebs 23, freely litting betweenthe flanges 7 of the wheel rim and pivotally connected therewith bytrunnions or pivot pins 24, as shown in Figs. l and 8. The trunnions orpivot pins Q11, whichhave steel or hard metal hushed bear ings in theflanges 7 are formed with squared central portions fitted incorrespondingly shaped holes in the webs 23, as shown in Fig. 3. Theinner front ends of the webs 23 are made of circular or segmental shapeconcentric with the trunnions orpivot pins 24,

as shown i-n Fig. l, to provide broad bearing faces next to the flanges7 and to avoid :straight or flat-faced edges, which would tend, with theoscillation of the buckets, to compress and pack dirt inthe slot oropening through the wheel rim and thus interfere with the free movementand proper operation of the buckets. The front or leading ends c f thewebs 23 outside of the flanges 7 are formed with sharp butwardly andrearwardly inclined cutting edges, and the rim or rings 6, as shown inFig. 3.

The buckets 22 are curved or inclined inwardly toward their rear endsand at the sides so as to close against the laterally projecting partsof the wheelA rim or rings 6-on the ascending side of the wheel andveach form therewith two forwardly opening pockets or compartments on theouter sides of the iianges 7, the rear ends of the buckets.` beingslotted, as shown in Fig. 3, to 4close over the flanges 7 The provisionof thel buckets 22 and their central webs 23 at their front or leadingends with rearwardly inclined cutting edges, causesthem to thrust stonesand other hard obstructions,which can be dislodged, to one Side vor theother out of their path and tof sever roots or the like with a shearingcut, thereby facilitating the operation of the machine and preventingbreaking the buckets and otherwise injuring the machine.

To effectively remove dirt from the buckets, the machine ris provided onthe upper side of the digging wheel with Scrapers, consisting ofrearwardly diver'ging plates 26, provided with outwardly project-V ingwings 27, and supported at their rear ends by arms or standards. 28,vfastened to and extending upwardly 'from theY frame bars l at the sidesof thea wheel. The front ends of the scraper plates 26,` which arelocated close to the outer sides of the flanges 7 are sharpened orbeveled, and have upwardly and rearwardly inclined sharpened or bevelededges extending above said flanges to the wings 27, which'havelre'arwardly inclined front edges and-are curved to correspond with theshape ofthe buckets. The lower edges of the plates 26 conform and workclose to the horizontal or laterally 115 buckets and the mannerof'pivotally con- 120 necting the buckets-with. thewheel rim, asshownand described, enable the Scrapersl to' work close to the outer surfacesof therim and inner surfaces of the buckets` andy com- Y pletely andeffectively remove dirt therefrom 125 besides iirmly holding and guidingthe buckets in proper working relation to the. wheel rim and permittingthem to open and close freely. f

The machine is provided on each side be 130 low thescrapers with.laterally and downwardly inclined chutes29, supported from the framebars 1, for receiving the dirt dis'- charged from the buckets anddelivering it upon the ground at the sides of the trench. A curved guide30, attached to the shoe or runner 3, and standards-it, concentric withthe wheel rim or rings 6, supports the buckets 22 and limits theiropening on the rear descending side of the wheel.

The spaceinside of the digging wheel below the frame bars 1 and thespace behind the guide 30 and between it and the standards 4 and braces5, are closed by plates 31 and 32, as shown'in Figs. 1 and 4 whichprevent the dirt from caving in at the sides lof a trench andinterfering with the operation of the digging wheel and with layingtile, when desired, behind said guide.

VIn the operation of the machine, the digging wheel is turned andadvanced with the tractor in the directions indicated by arrows on `Fig.1, and thebuckets 22 on the lower and the ascending andl advancing sidesof 25 the wheel, radually cut the dirt below,

, ahead of and above them, and are filled in their advance and ascentwhile they are held firmly closed at their rear or trailing ends againstthe wheel rim by the pressure against the rearwardly inclined cuttingedges at their Vfront or leading ends. At first, as the machineadvances, the digging wheel descends into the ground with the shoe 3,gradually deepening the trench, until the vertically swinging frame bars1, assume a substantially*horizontal position which is afterwardmaintained, the depth of the trench being determined by the verticaladjustment of the pivot connections at the 4o front ends of the saidframe bars with the tractor. After they pass above and out of thetrench, the buckets are held closed by gravity until they are drawn overand turned upwardly at their trailing ends by 45 the Scrapers 26 and 27,which completely eject the dirt therefrom into the chutes 29, by whichit is delivered upon the ground at opposite sides of the machine.

The shoe 3 bearing on the bottom of the trench, supports the diggingwheel in proper working position as it advances against the diggingaction of the buckets, which has a tendency to force it downward.

Various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts maybe made, without departure from the principle and scope of the inventionas defined in the following claims.

I claim: e0 1. In a trench digging machine, a digging wheel comprising apair of spaced angle rings set with their vertical sides adjacent toeach other and forming a vertical slot between them in opencommunication with the interior of the wheel, and buckets havingvertical webs inserted an-d pivotally secured in said slot at intervalsaround the periphery of the wheel.

2. In a trench digging machine, a digging wheel comprising a pair ofspaced angle rings set with their vertical sides adjacent to each other,spaced internal gears attached to the inner sides of said rings with thespace between them coinciding with the space between the rings andforming therewith an open vertical slot through the rim ofthe wheel,'and buckets having verti cal webs, inserted and pivotally secured insaid slot at intervals around the periphery of the wheel.

3. In a trench digging machine, the combination of a frame, a diggingwheel rotata-bly mounted therein'and having a rim provided on theoutside with spaced peripheral flanges and on the inside with spacedinternal gears, the spaces between the flanges and gears coinciding andforming an open slot through the rim, buckets having webs inserted andpivotally secured in said slot at intervals around the periphery of thewheel, vand a pair of driving pinions carried by said frame and meshingwith said gears.

4c. In a trench digging machine, the conibin-ation of a frame, a diggingwheel rotatably mounted in said frame and having a rim provided mediallywith 'spaced flanges forming a slot opening through the rim into theinterior of the wheel, buckets having central longitudinal .webs pivotedadjacent to their front ends between said flanges, the buckets beinginclined inwardly toward their rear ends and longitudinally slotted toclose on the ascending side of the wheel toward the rim and form pocketstherewith on opposite sides of the anges, Scrapers mounted on the frameadj-acent to the upper side of the wheel close to the outer sides ofsaid flanges in the path of theV closed buckets which in passing overthem are turned upwardly and opened thereby.

45. In a trench digging machine, a digging wheel having a rim providedmedially with outwardly projecting spaced flanges, and buckets providedwith longitudinal webs pivoted between said flanges and having outwardlyand rearwardly inclined front cutting edges, the buckets having frontcutting edges diverging outwardly and rearwardly from the outer ends ofthe cutting edges of the webs.

6. In a trench digging machine, the combination of a frame, a diggingwheel rotatably mounted therein and having a rim composed of ringsformed on their adjacent sides with outwardly projecting radial fiangeswhich are spaced lapart and form a vertical slot between them throughthe rim, correspondingly spaced internal gears formed at intervals withoutwardly projecting connecting and spacing lugs which rings.

are secured between the flanges of the rings,

a driving shaft mounted on said frame within said wheel parallel withits axis and provided with plnaons meshmg with said gears,

and buckets having central longitudinal which project outwardly betweenand are. lsecured to the vertical flanges of the rings,

anged rollers mounted on said frame'and rotatably supporting and guidingsaid digging wheel inside thereof, driving pinions mounted on saidfra-me in mesh with the internal gears, and buckets provided withcentral longitudinal webs freely fitting between and pivoted` to theianges of said 8. In a trench digging machine, the Ycombination of aframe, a digging wheel comprising a pair of angle rings having on theiradjacent sides outwardly projecting flanges spaced to form an open slotthrough the rim, a pair of correspondinglyspaced internal gears fittedinside of said rings and formed at intervals with connecting and spacinglugs which project outwardly between and are secured to the anges of therings, the spaces between the teeth of said gears extending radiallythere-through .and being open at their outer ends and closed at theirinner ends by bonds, flanged 'supporting and gui-ding rollers mounted onsaid fra-me in position to engage with the inside faces and outer edgesof theY rings, Vand a pair of driving pinions mounted on said frame inmesh with said gears.

In witness whereof I hereto aiix my signature.

LEWIS WEHN ER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing*` thev Commissioner of ratontl.-

Washington, D. 0."

